The attack on Dar Al-Farooq mosque in Bloomington on August 5th was a cruel reminder that our hope for a peaceful and inclusive world still needs a lot of work here at home. I'm
both shocked and frustrated that such hatred and violence is here in our own
community. This was not just an attack on Dar Al-Farooq and the people worshiping there that morning. It was an attack on all of us.

We are a community of many faiths, races, and
backgrounds, but we stand together in our common desire to feel safe, supported, loved, and welcome. When those basic values are
threatened, I feel personally responsible to stand up and protect them. And I wasn't alone with that feeling.

I met with leaders from Dar Al-Farooq the week following the bombing, and I will continue to support them as we move forward together. To our Muslim neighbors and friends, you can always look to me as a resource and advocate for you here at the county. I will not let the acts of the cowardly and bigoted define who we are as a community.

Appointee spotlight: Lisa Rudolph

I depend on trusted appointees for their time, talent, and good judgement to better serve Hennepin County's residents. I cannot thank them enough for their service, and occasionally we will publish these highlights to recognize the phenomenal work they do.

This week we're featuring Lisa Rudolph, who serves on the Designer Selection Committee.

What are your greatest passions in
life? My greatest passions are learning and new experiences.I love to read, travel to see new places and
things, and am always up for trying something new.Two of my favorite things to do are curling
and sailing, both of which I’ve just picked up in the past few years.

What is your service/professional
background? I have a broad professional background, encompassing institutional finance,
airport operations, marketing, and photography.I’m currently a photographer specializing in large format fine art.From a service standpoint, I’ve been very involved in my community.I’ve been a member of several school district
advisory committees, city commissions, school PTO, and youth sports groups.

Describe the responsibilities
of the position you were appointed to. What kind of impact does it have on
Hennepin County? I was appointed to the Designer Selection Committee, the group that assists in
the selection of architectural and engineering consultants for major facility
construction and remodeling projects.This committee has a direct impact on the look and feel of the county,
as well as the ways residents interact with and access county services.

Tell us about your life in District
5. What drew you here? What kept you here? My job at the Minneapolis St. Paul airport originally drew me to District
5.I’m now 19 years into my 2 year
plan.Despite the cold winters, I’ve
grown to love life here.The summers are
phenomenal and I take every opportunity to enjoy them to the fullest.

What’s your favorite event / thing to
do in District 5? I love the close proximity to water that I enjoy living in Richfield.I can hop on a bike trail a block away and
pedal through a 30 mile route through the chain of lakes.I also enjoy having my sailboat on Lake
Nokomis.

Since our last newsletter in August, here are a few of the highlights from Commissioner Goettel's work...

Debbie had a busy Night to Unite in Eden Prairie, hopping from neighborhood to neighborhood visiting neighborhood parties with Council Member Ron Case. To learn more or to host a neighborhood party yourself next year, visit the Eden Prairie city website.

Met with county staff to discuss the HCMC Master Campus Plan

Attended a Super Bowl LII briefing with law enforcement officials and county staff

Attended a child wellbeing forum with local leaders and child protection specialists

Traveled to St. Paul for a Metropolitan Mosquito Control District meeting

Toured the Hennepin County Addiction Medicine Clinic at HCMC with Dr. Charlie Reznikoff. We discussed ways the county can be more effective at reversing the rapidly accelerating trends we've seen with opioid use.

Eat Street at 20: exhibition opening reception

Please join us for an evening celebrating the opening of "Eat Street 20: in their own words." This exhibition turns the spotlight on the evolution of one of Hennepin County's favorite streets. Read more about the event here.

There are two major renovations approaching for District five libraries: one at Oxboro Library (Bloomington) and another at Eden Prairie Library. Hennepin County
Library invites neighbors and patrons to attend community engagement meetings
to hear current plans and make their voices heard.

Housing crises, energy assistance, child protection, emergency situations; we are here to advocate for you when it comes to navigating local and county services, and we want to help. Please call our office at 612-348-7885 with any questions or for assistance.